October 20: What Happened on This Day in History
October 20th marks the 293rd day of the Gregorian calendar year (or the 294th in case of leap years). There are 72 days remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on October 20th in history, famous birthdays on October 20th, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to October 20.
What happened on October 20?
Here's what happened on October 20th in history:
- 2022: Liz Truss stepped down as British Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party amid a significant political crisis, marking the shortest tenure in British political history at just 49 days.
- 2017: Two devastating suicide bomber attacks targeted Shia mosques in Kabul and a Sunni mosque in Ghor Province, resulting in approximately 60 fatalities. The week saw a total of around 180 people killed in bombing attacks, highlighting the ongoing violence in Afghanistan.
- 2016: Turkish military jets conducted 26 airstrikes against Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia in three recently liberated villages west of al-Bab and northeast of Aleppo. Conflicting casualty reports emerged: the Turkish General Staff claimed 160-200 people were killed, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 11 fatalities and multiple injuries.
- 2012: UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi from the Arab League meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in Damascus, attempting to negotiate a temporary ceasefire for the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday, highlighting international diplomatic efforts to reduce conflict.
- 2009: A national election was held in Niger, with President Mamadou Tandja's party winning 76 of 113 parliamentary seats. The election was notably controversial, as the opposition boycotted the vote in protest against constitutional changes that would allow the president to seek a third term.
- 2005: Eva Svankmajerova, a notable Czech artist, passed away. She was a significant figure in the Czech art scene, known for her unique artistic contributions.
- 2003: Jack Elam, a prominent American actor known for his distinctive appearance and character roles in Western films, died at the age of 85.
- 1980: Lady Isobel Barnett, a prominent British television personality, tragically died by suicide following her conviction for shoplifting. A respected media figure born in 1918, her downfall and subsequent death highlighted the severe personal and social consequences of legal troubles and public shame.
- 1979: Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan made a guest appearance on the popular late-night comedy show Saturday Night Live, further cementing his cultural influence.
- 1974: The popular German crime television series 'Derrick' premiered on ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), marking the beginning of a long-running and influential detective show that would become a staple of German television programming. The series, featuring detective Horst Tappert as Oberkommissar Derrick, would go on to become internationally renowned and broadcast in numerous countries.
What famous birthdays are on October 20?
On October 20th there are the following famous birthdays:
![Mickey Mantle]()
![Tom Petty]()
![Jean-Pierre Melville]()
Jean-Pierre Melville (1917)Influential French film director renowned for his stylish and minimalist crime noir films.
![Thomas Newman]()
Thomas Newman (1955)Renowned film composer known for scoring movies like 'American Beauty' and 'Skyfall', who unfortunately passed away prematurely.
![John Krasinski]()
John Krasinski (1979)John Krasinski is an acclaimed American actor, director, and screenwriter best known for his iconic role as Jim Halpert in the popular...
![Viggo Mortensen]()
Viggo Mortensen (1958)Acclaimed American actor best known for his iconic role as Aragorn in 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy.
![Snoop Dogg]()
![Jerry Orbach]()
Jerry Orbach (1935)Renowned American actor and singer best known for his iconic role as Detective Lennie Briscoe on the long-running TV series Law & Order.
![Takayuki Yamada]()
Takayuki Yamada (1983)Takayuki Yamada is a prominent Japanese actor and singer who has gained significant recognition in Japanese cinema and television, known for...
![Danny Boyle]()
Danny Boyle (1956)Acclaimed British film director known for directing films like 'Trainspotting', '28 Days Later', and the Oscar-winning 'Slumdog...
How to check someone's birthday?
If you’re looking for a person's birth date, have a look at our Birthday Search Guide
Who died on October 20?
On October 20th the following celebrities died:
![Joel McCrea]()
Joel McCrea (1990)Prominent Hollywood actor known for his versatile roles in westerns, dramas, and sophisticated comedies.
![Burt Lancaster]()
Burt Lancaster (1994)Acclaimed Hollywood actor known for his powerful performances and versatile roles, winning an Oscar for 'Elmer Gantry' and starring in...
![Anthony Quayle]()
Anthony Quayle (1989)Renowned English actor known for significant roles in classic films like 'Anne of the Thousand Days' and 'Lawrence of Arabia', with a...
![Jack Elam]()
Jack Elam (2003)Iconic Western character actor known for his distinctive menacing stare and roles as villainous thugs in over 60 films.
![Jane Wyatt]()
Jane Wyatt (2006)Renowned American actress known for her roles in television and film, particularly in the classic sitcom 'Father Knows Best'.
![Basil Radford]()
![Eberhard Feik]()
- Paul Dirac (1984)
Paul Dirac was a pioneering English theoretical physicist who made fundamental contributions to quantum mechanics and quantum...
- Andrey Kolmogorov (1987)
Renowned Russian mathematician who made groundbreaking contributions to probability theory, topology, and information theory.
- Oscar de la Renta (2014)
Internationally acclaimed Dominican-American fashion designer who revolutionized haute couture and dressed numerous celebrities and First...
What day of the year is October 20?
October 20th marks the 293rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 294th in case of leap years).
There are 72 days remaining until the end of the year.
October 20th is the 20th day of the month of October.
What day of the week is October 20?
On October 20th, 2025 the day of the week is Monday.
| October | 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
What zodiac sign is associated with the day October 20?
The zodiac sign associated with October 20th is Libra according to the Western Zodiac.
